The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-10
Penitentlary Convicts on Gulf and
Ship Island Railroad.

| Report of the committee appointed by a
mass meeting of citizens of Harrison
| county, Mississippi, TO investigate the
condition and management of the Peni-
Tertiary convicts employed on the Gulf
and Ship Island Railroad, especially into
the matter of 'trustys" or ''rousters."
Your committee beg leave TO report that
pursuant to appointment made by the
mass meeting OF citizens held at Hands
boro, on Monday night, July 25th, they
have carefully and diligently examined
the camps and the condition of the con-
victs now employed by the Gulf and Ship
Island Railroad, Company, and submit
the following as our findings:
1st. Their quarters or cages are COM
Portable and cleanly.
wholesome food, and are comfortably
clad.
Sd. They are worked moderately, and
| their general appearance and cheerfulness
| indicate their condition and treatment to
be good and humane.
4th. We find in the hospital at camp five
under the treatment OK DR.. Harry, all the
| sick had recovered except few chronic
| cases, and a few with ulcers on their legs
OF long standing. We found the hospital
well supplied with medicine, and such
articles of TODD as are adapted to the treat
ment of the sick.
9TH. Upon the subject of "trustys" or
"roUsters," we found that only three or four
were ever sent away from camps, and they
were teamsters ; others were also used as
guards, but as the State Board of Control
have reported on this matter, we had no
right to recommend the abolition Of such
system, and thec, too, the same practice is
allowed and recognized in other States,
thus conclusiyely establishing the right of
"trustys"
9th. Enquiry of persons living on or
near the line OF road, ELECTED the fact that
there had been no interference with either
person or.property by the conviets; and
we would further state that the negro who
attempted an outrage recently in this COM
munity, and for which he lost his life, was
in no way connected with the Gulf and
Ship Islaud Railroad Company, nor had
he been in its employ.
9TH. Upon the subject of discharged con-
vIcts, whose terms have expired, your conf
mittee find, a rule, that they leave on
the first train for their homes. The COM
pany always pay a convict so and gives
him a suit of citizens clothes. and thew
have no ri hit or authority to send them to
Jackson or elsewhere; when his time is out
he is a free man, and can go where he
pleases. We would, therefore, recommend
that the law be enforced by the proper
authorities in relation to dangerous and
suspicious characters. Upon the whole,
your committee, after diligent enquiry and
investigation, cannot but express their en-
tire satisfaction with the management OF
the convicts in the county The work is
progressing finely. and it will be but few
weeks when the road will be completed to
Biloxi river, and all the con victs will be
out of the county. Even now they are all
north OF Bayou Barnard, except the track
laying gang of % men.
Your committee have no recommends
tions to make except that the people con
tinue to cooperate with the railroad au-
thorities, at least TO the extent of their
moral support, and aid them in pushing
this great enterprise to completion.
We learn from the President that in a
few weeks he will commence the erection |
of shops for building fiat and box-cars, and |
this Will give employment to mechanics. |
and as fast as the track is laid, section |
hands will be needed to keep it up, and |
this will be done by free labor.
In conclusion, we desire to state that |
this report must not be accepted in any
sense as bearing upon the interest of the |
penitentiary AUTHORITIES prior to our inyes-
LEGATIONS, as we are to deal with the pres.
ent only, and desire it distinctly under
stood that we do not wish any thing we
may say to be so construed as to reflect
upon the State Board Of Control or refute
former investigations or charges made
either by committees or individuals We
speak only whereof we know, ascertained
BY personal observation and enquiry.
Having fully reported, your committee
beg leave to be discharged.
G. Nj. LIDDLE,
VIM. COFFEE,
III. s. MAcHEN,
J. w. RANDOLPH,
A. g. LorossER,
I. j. STEWART. Chm.
The foregoing report was unanimously
adopted, aud on motion of Hon. Roderick
Zeal, THE CLARION and several other
ournals We're requested 10 publish the
Iame.
|